[Dean]

Anyone ever use some kind of duster rejuvenator for a California Duster?
Otherwise, how did you clean yours?

 

[smitty454]

I would like to know too. My daughter dropped mine when she was helping me clean the chevelle.

 

[Rich-L79]

I just take the duster head and soak it in room temperature water with Woolite and squish it around by hand to get all the dust and dirt off, you will be amazed at how dirty the water becomes! Rinse it VERY well with cold water. Let the mop head thoroughly dry! If you've already done this a few times and want to increase the duster's ability to pick up dust, spray it with Endust or Pledge (yes, furniture polish) and make sure to flop the mop head around to get even coverage. Don't get carried away. Let the spray dry and it will work like before.

The whole dust-picking-up effectiveness of such dusters is a light coating of, I believe, paraffin wax. Repeated washings will remove the wax, the Endust/Pledge adds a bit of wax back into it. I have to stress that you have to let the Endust/Pledge fully dry before using it again or it will leave streaks. The streaks are easy to remove with spray detailer though. The sprays just contain a tiny bit of very light wax.

In fact, I use Pledge to lightly coat all the under hood and undercarriage chassis black parts. It helps these areas resist dust and other dirt and makes these surfaces look clean and new as well.

 

[Dean]

Thanks Rich. I was dusting off the 69 and it still does the job ok but I got to thinking man this thing is getting old, I wonder if I should wash it.

 

[smitty454]

I just take the duster head and soak it in room temperature water with Woolite and squish it around by hand to get all the dust and dirt off, you will be amazed at how dirty the water becomes! Rinse it VERY well with cold water. Let the mop head thoroughly dry! If you've already done this a few times and want to increase the duster's ability to pick up dust, spray it with Endust or Pledge (yes, furniture polish) and make sure to flop the mop head around to get even coverage. Don't get carried away. Let the spray dry and it will work like before.

The whole dust-picking-up effectiveness of such dusters is a light coating of, I believe, paraffin wax. Repeated washings will remove the wax, the Endust/Pledge adds a bit of wax back into it. I have to stress that you have to let the Endust/Pledge fully dry before using it again or it will leave streaks. The streaks are easy to remove with spray detailer though. The sprays just contain a tiny bit of very light wax.

In fact, I use Pledge to lightly coat all the under hood and undercarriage chassis black parts. It helps these areas resist dust and other dirt and makes these surfaces look clean and new as well.

Great info, thanks Rich!

 

[blm]

I stopped using mine. Not because it was dirty but because I was told it scratches the clear coat.

 

[Dean]

I stopped using mine. Not because it was dirty but because I was told it scratches the clear coat.

I think somebody told you wrong unless maybe their clear coat was very poorly done.

 

[blm]

Post #12 &14 &16 &17 &20.

advice on keeping black perfect

I have my '70 SS in a shop for polishing. The car was painted 6 or 7 years ago and it is Tuxedo black with clear over it. It was flawless for a while but the scratches started showing in the sunlight, at night it was absolutely beautiful. I always cover it with a California Covers very soft...

www.chevelles.com

 

[Rich-L79]

A duster will not cause scratches if you keep it clean and use it lightly as you should. Never let the weight of the duster rest on the paint finish, the duster should glide over the surface with only the mop tentacles touching the paint. Also, ANY color should have a decent coat of wax or polish on it to further prevent scratches. My wife's new car in 2018 was black and it has yet to show any scratches or swirls.

 

[Rosinbluth]

Rich is correct. When used correctly and it is just dust on the car, they are fine to use. Especially if you have a nice sealer or wax on ur car so it's pretty slick on the surface.
Some people try to use these dusters to wash thier dang cars. They push em down onto the paint and rub like hell. Yeah, that'll make scratches. Might not see them at first, but after time, ur paint will dull and you'll notice. Similar to a touch car wash...

 

[BlueSS454]

I think somebody told you wrong unless maybe their clear coat was very poorly done.

It does. It's the worst thing you can use to clean a car. Dragging dust and dirt across any paint surface will scratch it. Fresh microfiber cloths with a good spray detailer is all you need.

 

[Dean]

I've been using one for many years and it hasn't left any scratches yet but my car is the old single stage lacquer with no clear coat.

 

[BlueSS454]

Use it on a black car......

 

[Dean]

Use it on a black car......

Black really is beautiful but very high maintenance so I wouldn't want to try one if my car was black.
My last black car (that I cared about the paint on) was a 53 Mercury convertible many years ago.

 

[427L88]

Maybe I "misused" it but I;ve gone to microfiber cloths exclusively.

 

[catzodellamarina]

My mom bought me a pair of the Ca Dusters in the 80's when I had my first completed Chevelle. The large one broke and I eventually threw it away. I still have the mini. I dust the TV and electronics with it. It needs a bath before I introduce it to my new Chevelle.

 

[Rich-L79]

It does. It's the worst thing you can use to clean a car. Dragging dust and dirt across any paint surface will scratch it. Fresh microfiber cloths with a good spray detailer is all you need.

To be clear, you don't use a duster to CLEAN a car, you use it to dust off a clean car.

Maroon might as well be black. My car was painted 21 years ago and I don't see any scratches or swirls and I've properly used a duster all those years.